Cross-rein buckle.



T. J. VIRTUE. onoss REIN BUCKLE.

APPLICATION FILED IEB.23, 1912.

1,080,665, Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

zlfyrilae.

fibtwwoeo 2 Z I I. I I Qtl'ozmqz,

coLUMBu PLANOORAPN C0" WASHINGTON. D c.

TINTTED STATES) PATENT @FFTCE.

THOMAS J. VIRTUE, OF CHAUNCEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CROSS-REIN BUCKLE.

Application filed February 23, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Tnoams J. VIRTUE, citizen of the United States, residing at Chauncey, in the county of Luzerne and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cross Rein Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in buckles, more particularly to the class of cross rein buckles, and has for one of its objects to simplify and improve the construction and increase the efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a simply constructed device whereby the long or driving rein may be adjustably and detachably coupled to the check or cross rein and without detaching any of the parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may be readily adapted without structural change to reins of various sizes and is thus applicable to the heavy or light harness.

WVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and de scribed, and then specifically pointed out in the claim, and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a set of driving reins for a team of horses with the improvement applied; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved device including portions of one of the drive reins and a portion of one of the check reins attached; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The improved device comprises a body 10 having sides 11-12 extending at right angles thereto, the sides being provided respectively with longitudinal slots 13-14, the slots extending obliquely to the longitudinal plane of the body. The body 10 is also provided with a strap-engaging pin or tongue 15 preferably spaced midway between the sides 11--12. The body 10 with its sides 11-12, forms a channel-like member in which the main rein represented at 16, is received, the rein having a plurality of holes 17 spaced apart with one of which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented 1') cc. 2), 1913.

Serial No. 679,323.

the tongue 15 is engaged. Bearing upon the strap 16 between the sides 11-12 of the body member is a plate 18 having an eye 19 at one end to receive the cross rein or check rein, a portion of which is indicated at 20. The plate 18 is provided with a longitudinal slot 21 which bears over the stud 15 and enables the plate to be moved longitudinally of the body 10. The plate 18 is also provided with lateral projections 22 which engage through the oblique slots 13-1 l of the sides 11---12. By this simple arrangement it will be obvious that with the plate 18 located between the sides 11-12, and with the lugs 22 inserted in the oblique slots 13--14t, that by longitudinal movementof the plate said plate will be caused to press by the oblique form of the slots tightly against the strap 16 and press the latter with equal force against the inner face of the body 10, and thus clamp the parts together, and the greater the strain the greater will be the pressure between the parts. When the main line rein and the cross rein are to be adjusted, the plate 18 is moved in one direction so that its lugs 22 will pass out from the open ends of the slots 13-14t when the plate can be detached and the main line rein 16 adjusted to any of the tongue-holes 17, and the plate 18 restored to position as before described. The adjusting operation is thus a very simple matter, and can be quickly accomplished and without disconnecting any of the parts. The plate 18 is permanently attached to the cross or check rein either by riveting, sewing or other suitable fastening devices, while the body mcmber 10 with its spaced sides, is entirely detachable from the main line rein, and is held in coupled relations through the coaction of the plate 18 and the holding lugs 22.

The member 10 with its spaced sides will preferably be pressed from sheet or plate metal as light as possible consistent with the strains to which it will be subjected, while the plate 18 together with its holding lugs 22 will also be preferably pressed from sheet or plate metal.

The metal members of the device will be plated, galvanized, or otherwise treated or protected to correspond to other metal portions of the harness.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

A buckle comprising a body having sides disposed at right angles to the body, said body being provided at a point midway between the sides with an upstanding tongue, the sides being of a height in excess of that of the tongue, the sides being formed with curved ends at one end of the body and straight ends at the other end of the body, the sides being formed With inclined slots adjacent their straight ends, the slots eX- tending from the straight ends of the side Walls to a point beyond the tongue, intersecting the tongue intermediate its end portion and the body, and a plate formed with offsets disposed to extend Within the slots andengage the side Walls of the body, the plate being formed With a strap receiving 15 100p.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS J. VIRTUE. [L. s] Vitnesses J. Q. CREVELING, J OI-IN J. MCDONOUGH.

Copiesof this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing; the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1M0. 

